Tarantulas looking for love in California; hikers warned

Because females typically stay inside, if a hiker comes across a tarantula on a footpath, it's probably a male on the lookout for a mate, experts say.

The spiders move slowly so hikers can take pictures, but humans shouldn't touch or otherwise harass the creatures, said Kate Kuykendall, a spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Mountains.

According to the park service, mating occurs when the male approaches the female's burrow and taps on the web strands outside the entrance.